The Junior Sioux Wheelers, a wheelchair basketball team comprised of area youth, took first place in the junior division at the Courage Kenny Classic tournament Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 in Hastings, Minn.

The regional tournament was open to any team in the country wishing to participate. Teams from Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota and as far away as Berkley, Calif. competed in the two-day tournament.

The Junior Sioux Wheelers’ first-place finish came after they won five of six games. Michael Mitchell of Dell Rapids High School was awarded the all- tournament MVP Award for the junior division.
The selection process required coaches and NCAA referees to vote on the most valuable player for each game.

The team plans to travel to Whitewater, Wis. for a regional tournament and then to Louisville, Ky. for the national tournament in the coming months.